31/01/2006

Iran to face UN Security Council

Iran will be reported to the United Nations Security Council over its controversial nuclear programme.

The announcement comes after a meeting of the five permanent members of the council.

Foreign secretaries from the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China issued a statement that said there were "serious concerns" about Iran's nuclear programme and that an "extensive period of confidence building" was required.

The statement said that the International Atomic Energy Agency should report Iran to the council at their emergency meeting in Vienna on Thursday.

The foreign secretaries also agreed that the council should await the IAEA's formal report on Tehran's activities, due in March, before deciding on what action to take.

The statement stressed that the council would seek to find a "diplomatic solution" to the problem.

Iran restarted its nuclear programme, after two years, earlier this month. It has insisted that the research is purely to develop nuclear power and not nuclear weapons. However, there has been widespread concern among Western countries that they will try to develop weapons.

Iran could face possible sanctions over the issue.

(KMcA)


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